Liz Trocchio Smith
Certified Executive Business Coach
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Having a stressed-out team is bad, right? Well, not exactly. Seasoned managers know that if you’re trying to drum up new business, get a customer’s order out on time, or hit your numbers for the quarter, a little stress goes a long way. The key is to put the right amount of pressure on your team. That way they’re motivated to perform at their best — but aren’t pulling their…
It takes courage to disagree with someone senior to you, but doing it is an important skill, especially if you don’t want the leaders in your organization to think of you as a doormat with nothing to contribute. You want to voice your opinion in a way that will gain respect — not get your head handed to you. So check yourself before you speak up. First, don’t just blurt…
Lots of research has shown that people lie — and they lie often. Negotiators are no exception, so deception is one more thing that you have to prepare for, and take steps to prevent, before negotiating. The next time you’re in a negotiation, make it more difficult for your counterpart to lie by disclosing information upfront. Humans have a strong inclination to reciprocate disclosure: When someone shares sensitive information with…
Managing a project on a tight deadline is tough, but it can be even more challenging when you’re working with a cross-cultural team. “On time” often means something different in Germany than it does in Belgium or Kenya. That’s why it’s important to clarify exact deadlines up front. Don’t assume that “I’ll get the data to you next week” means it will be in your inbox on Monday morning. Ask…
In the ideal meeting, all attendees participate, contributing diverse points of view and ideas. But few meetings live up to that. Multiple studies have shown that women are interrupted in meetings far more often, and their ideas are taken less seriously. To make sure you’re getting the most from all participants, take unconscious bias seriously. Foster a culture in which both men and women are encouraged to “call it out”…
We’ve all been in meetings that seem like they go on and on and on. Instead of watching the clock, take matters into your own hands: Come prepared. You can avoid a chaotic, rambling conversation simply by showing up with a clearly articulated position on the topic to be discussed. Don’t push it on others, but offer to share it if people think doing so will speed up the discussion….
Sometimes you work with someone you just don’t like. Maybe your colleague rubs you the wrong way, disagrees with you constantly, or is arrogant and entitled. Before you start pointing fingers, take a look in the mirror. Consider how you might be contributing to the problem, and try to objectively assess what you may have done to escalate the issue. Or ask a trusted colleague for their perspective. The goal…
When you need to talk through a difficult issue with a coworker, it’s tempting to just get it over with. But don’t start the conversation until you’ve taken the time to see the situation from their perspective. Try to get a sense of what your colleague might be thinking. They have a rationale for the way they’ve been behaving, so what might that reason be? Imagine you’re in their shoes….
Your relationship with your boss is critical to your success. But there’s another person who often has just as much influence over your career: your boss’s boss. Here’s how to foster that connection without undermining your manager. Connect with your boss’s boss on a personal level. Finding a common interest might take some digging, but it’s worthwhile to forge a bond that’s not solely related to work. Pass along compliments you receive…
If you’re a freelancer, you know the importance of negotiating a fair rate and relationship for your work. Here’s what to keep in mind during your next negotiation with a client: Remember, it’s agile. You’ll be expected to contribute on day one. Therefore, your negotiation should be based on a well-defined, realistic, and well-communicated plan of what you can achieve, by when, and how. Do your homework. Take the time to…
Practicing gratitude — making a deliberate point of being thankful for the positive things in your life — is good for your happiness and well-being. But when we express our gratitude to others, we have a tendency to talk about ourselves when we should be thinking about them. Often when we get help and support, we want to talk about how the favor made us feel: “It let me relax…” or “It makes me…
When you’re hiring a new manager, the stakes are high. You need someone who can effectively lead people, manage a budget, liaise with upper management — and, usually, do it from day one. But what if a potential hire doesn’t yet have a track record in all of the above? An important thing to look for in this situation is the person’s awareness of the nature of management. Moving into…